Heating system.



A. KEHM.

HEATING SYSTEM. APPLICATlON FILED MAR. 22, 1915.

1,174,586. Patented Mar. 7,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

THE COLUMBIA PLAN 00000000000000000000000 c.

liz eizzan' A. KEHM.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPVLIVCATION FILED MAR. 22. ms.

Patented Mar. 7,1916.

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AUGUST KEI-IM, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

HEATING .SESTEM.

Application filed Marc h 22, 1915,

To all whomrit-may concern:

Be it known that I, A GUST KEHM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to the heating of buildings, and more particularly to heating systems in which hot water radiators are employed for warming the roomsofa buildmg.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved heating system in which the water in the several radiators is economically heated from a common source.

While the so-called hot water system of heating possesses well known advantages, this system, as heretofore commonly employed, is not well adapted foruse in large buildings on account of the great quantity of water required to be heated. Further more, its use in tall buildings is impracticable because of the great pressure which results in the lower floors of the building from the circulation of the water throughout the various radiators and connections of the higher floors.

The present invention accordingly proposes to avoid the use of either a great quantity or a great head of water, while still retaining the advantages to be derived from hot water radiation and the use of a central or common source of heat. To this end each radiator is independently filled with water, and the water is efficiently heated by a rapid circulation through an improved heater associated with the radiator and so arranged that the heaters of all the radiators may be supplied-with steam at low pressure from a common source.

The invention further permitsfthe use of radiators directly heated by steam in parts of a building, while other parts of the building are heated from the same source but through water heated radiators, It is therefore advantageously employ r. in buildings, containing living rooms and a drying or other room requiring ahigh tem- Specification of LettersPatent.

Serial No. 16,075,

perature, and in buildings composed in part of ofiices or other rooms of moderate size but also having shops or other large rooms where the high temperature of steam heated radiators is not particularly objec- Patented Mar. '7, 1916.

tionable and the proper amount of water a heated radiating surface would be unduly large. In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a perspectlve view illustrating, in diagram, a heating system embodying the features of improvement provided by the inventlon; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a form of air vent which may be employed; Figs. 3 and 4c are detail plan sectional views taken on the lines 3V3 and 4:4:, respectively, of Fig. 6; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the radiators, partlyin section; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the radiator taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5, but with some of the parts shown in elevation; and Fig. 7 is a sectional View showing a detail of the radiator and a tool which may be employed when water is to be supplied or withdrawn be ofany well known form of construction,

the one shown being of the upright type having a steam outlet at 15 and a return inlet at 16, the customary water level being indicated by the dot and dash line 17 In the simple form of arrangement selected for illustrationpall 0f the radiators, as 11, 12, and 13, are located at a common level which is above the water level, as 17, of theboiler 14. In this simple arrangement the radiators are all alike, and each radiator, as 11 (Figs. 5v and 6), includes a plurality of upright tubular columns or loops 18 of ordinary construction, and an associated heater, generally designated 19. The columns or loops 18 are placed side by side, and those adjacent each end are .connected at top and bottom in the usual way, as by threaded nipples 20.

The. heater 19, provides chambers, as 58 nd. 3, w ich. Serve, a St d a er spaces, respectively, and which have a common wall for the rapid interchange of heat from one to the other.

It is an important feature of the invention that the steam and water spaces 58 and 63 are proportioned to provide a relatively large area of common wall surface without requiring either of said chambers to consist of long and narrow or tortuous passages for the contained fluid. It is also essential to an economic and noiseless operation of the system that the heater, as 19, be so located with reference to other parts of the radiator as to provide ample space above the level of the heater into which the hot water may escape from contact with steam heated surfaces. As shown, the steam, chamber 58, of the heater 19, takes the form of the chamber of an upright cylinder 22. The water chamber 63, on the other hand, principally comprises the bores of a plurality of upright tubes 21 which extend vertically through the chamber of the cylinder 22. Preferably the walls of the tubes 21 are made of heat conducting material, as brass,

and the cylinder 22 is provided with headers or partitions '23 adjacent each end, between which the tubes 21 are extended. The chamber of the radiator generally designated 64 and comprising the bores of the tubular columns or loops 18, the openings through the nipples 20, and the chamber 63 of the heater 19 is filled with water. As shown, the heater 19 is located between two intermediate col umns or loops 18 of the radiator. To provide room for the heater at this point, a spacing nipple 24 is interposed between and connects the said intermediate loops 18 at their lower ends. As the cylinder 22 is considerably shorter than the height of the radiator, the latter desirably includes a central short loop 26. This short loop 26 is located directly over the heater and has its higher end connected with the adjacent loop 18 at each side, as by the use of additional nipples 20.

A short pipe or union 25 connects the upper side of the spacing nipple 24 with the lower end of the cylinder 22, and a pipe 27 connects the upper end of the cylinder 22 with the lower end of the loop 26. It will be understood that the pipes 27 and 25, respectively, enter the cylinder 22 above and below the adjacent header or partition 23 where they communicate with the bores of the tubes 21. It therefore. follows that when heat is applied to the exterior of the tubes 21, as by filling the chamber of the cylinder 22 with steam, the water contained within the radiator will circulate upwardly through the tubes 21 and through the pipe 27 and short loop 26, into the loops 18 adjacent each end. As heat is extracted from the water in the loops 18 by radiation from the outside of the loops, the water descends .to which it extends.

within the loops and enters the spacing nipple 24 from each end and is delivered to the lower ends of the tubes 21 through the short pipe or union 25. This circulation of the water is insured by the upright arrangement of the heater 19, the location of its lower end adjacent the spacing nipple 24, and by the provision of ample water space inthe chamber of the radiator above the level of the highest part of the heater.

A line of pipe 28 and its branches, as 30 and 31, serves for supplying steam from the boiler 14 to the heaters 19 of all of the ra diators. In the improved arrangement shown, the pipe 28 is connected with the steam outlet 15 of the boiler and extends upwardly and then nearly horizontally to a point,,as 29, beyond the radiators, as 11 and 13, which are more remote from the boiler. From this point the branches 30 and 31 extend to the more remote radiators, 11 and 13, respectively, and thence to each succeeding radiator, as 12, toward the boiler.

Each branch, as 30, 31, has a connection 32 with the heater of each of the radiators As shown, each connection 32 enters the steam chamber 58 of the corresponding cylinder 22 at the top, and is controlled by a valve 59. hen this arrangement of steam supply piping is'employed, a return connection, as 33, extends away from the lower end of each of the steam chambers 58. Preferably all of these return connections unite with the branches,

as 34, 35, of a return pipe 36 which connects with the return inlet 16 of the boiler 14. As shown, the return connections 33 from the heaters 19 of the radiators, as 11 and 13, which are more remote from the boiler 14, enter the outer ends of the branches 34 and 35, respectively.

The rapid circulation of water through the metal tubes, as 21, of the heater 19 permits of the extraction of a given quantity of heat from the steam supply with a much smaller surface exposed to the steam than is required for the radiation of a like quantity of heat directly from a steam heated surface into the room to be heated. Under these circumstances the steam chambers 58 of the cylinder 22 are of relatively small capacity as compared with the chambers of radiators inwhich the radiating surfaces are directly exposed to the steam. The amount of air to be expelled when steam is first supplied is accordingly very small. This air is readily expelled through air vents 37, 38, one of which is located in each of the branches, as 34, 35, of the return pipe 36 adjacent to but above the water level 17 of the boiler.

Each of the air vents, as 37, 38, may take any of the well known forms of devices pro-- viding a thermally controlled air port. The form illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a cham- 'bered casing 39, connected with the corresponding branch 34, 35, of the return pipe 36, as by a nipple 40. The casing 39' has a vent opening 41 at its top, and this: opening is controlled by a thermally operated valve 42. As shown, the valve 42 is carried by the movable end of an expansible metallic bellows 43', housed within the chamber of the casing 39, and operating, by its expansion and contraction, upon changes in temperature to withdraw the valve42 from the opening 41 to permit. the escape of air, and for closing the opening to prevent the escape o1 steam, all in a well known manner.

While each of the radiators, as 11, 12 and 13, is normally sealed against the escape of water therefrom, provision is, desirably made for replenishing the supply ofwater in each radiator, or for emptying and refilling the same. As shown, the upper and lower ends of the terminal loops 18 of each radiator are closed by plugs47, each having a threaded socket 48 and a valve 49 which controls an opening 50 at the inner end of the socket. In order that each opening may be located as near as possible to the top or bottom of the radiator, each opening, 50 andsocket 48 is eccentrically located in the corresponding plug 47. Preferably the head, as 53, of each valve 49 is slotted for the reception of a screw driver 54. The stem, as 51, of each valve is externally threaded and tubular, but closed at its outer end, with a lateral openlng 52 communicating with the bore of the stem just under the head 53. Each valve is opened by rotating the same for retracting the stem until the lateral opening 52 communicateswith the chamber of the socket 48.

The turning of the valve 49, and the filling of the radiator when the valve is open, are conveniently accomplished if the screw driver 54 is slidingly extended through a filling tube 55 adapted to have threaded engagement with the walls of the socket 48. As shown, the filling tube 55 has a laterally projecting nipple 56, to which a hose, as 57, or other means for conveyingwater, may be attached. The screw driver 54 extends through the bore of the tube and through a packing gland 58 at the end of the tube.

As there is but little air to be expelled when steam is first supplied, there is a very considerable saving of heat units as compared with the practice of obtaining heat by direct radiation from a steam heated surface. The steam fittings, and particularly the valves 59, may accordingly be much smaller than obtains in the steam heating systems now in common use, thereby giving that part of the apparatus which is exposed to view in the rooms to be heated a, neat appearance and permitting the valves 59 to be of such small size that they may be easily manipulated. If desired, a grating or grille 60 may be used to conceal. the heater 19, inwhich case the stem, as 61, of the I handle 62 of the valve 59 will project through the grille to expose the handle 62 upon the outside. It will be understood that any vapor which enters the steam chamber 58 of the heater 19 is rapidly condensed by contact with the relatively cool walls of the water tubes 21. This condensation serves to draw in more vapor. The operation of the steam boiler 14 at a very low tempera ture and pressure is accordingly permitted.

I claim as my invention 1. In a heating system, in combination, a steam generator, a radiator having a relatively large water space 64 and small independent steam space 58, said spaces 58 and 64 being constructed to comprise relatively short steam and water passages with a common wall separating the two contained fluids, which wall is of large size in proportion to the size of the steam space 58 and of great width in proportion to the length of the said passages and the said water passage being located between and in a direct line with adjacent parts of the water space 64, thereby permitting the free movement of each fluid to contact with all parts of the adjacent side of the said common wall, and connection between the steam generator and the steam space 58 of the radiator.

2. In a heating system, in combination, a steam generator, a radiator having a rela tively large water space 64 and small independent steam space 58 with the greater part of the water space 64 located above the level of the highest part of the steam space 58, said spaces 58 and 64 being constructed to comprise relatively short steam and water passages with a common wall separating the two contained fluids, which wall is of large size in proportion to the size of the steam space 58 and of great width in proportion to the length of the said passages and the said water passage being located between and in a direct line with adjacent parts of the water space 64 thereby permitting the free movement of each fluid to contact with all parts of the adjacent side of the said common wall, and connection between the steam generator and the steam space 58 of the radiator.

3. In a heating system, in combination, a steam generator, a plurality of radiators located at different distances from the generator and each comprising a relatively large water space and small independent steam space with a common wall which is large in proportion to the size ofvthe steam space and with each of said spaces constructed for free movement of the corresponding fluid to contact with all parts of the adjacent side of the said common wall and the greater part of the water space located above the level of the highest part of the steam space, a steam pipe extending from the generator directly to the upper part of the steam space of the radiator which is the most remote from the generator and thence successively to the upper part of the steam space of each remaining radiator toward the generator, and a return pipe extending from the lower part of the steam space of the radiator which is the most remote from the generator to the generator and having an intermediate connection with the lower part of the steam space of each of the remaining radiators.

4:. In a heating system, in combination, a steam generator, a plurality of radiators located at difierent distances from the generator and each comprising a relatively large water space and small independent unvented steam space with a common wall which is large in proportion to the size of the steam space and with each of said spaces constructed for the free movement of the corresponding fluid to contact with all parts of the adjacent side of the said common wall and the greater part of the Water space located above the level of the highest part of the steam space, a steam pipe extending from the generator directly to the upper part of the steam space of the radiator which is most remote from the generator and thence successively to the upper part of the steam space of each remaining radiator toward the generator, a return pipe extending from the lower part of the steam space of the radiator which is most remote from the generator to the generator and having an intermediate connection with the lower part of the steam space of each of the remaining radiators and an air vent in the said return pipe between its connection with the steam space of the radiator which is nearest the generator and the generator.

5. In a heating system, in combination, a steam generator, a plurality of radiators located at different distances from the generator and each comprising a relatively large water space and small independent steam space with a common wall which is large in proportion to the size of the steam space and with each of said spaces constructed for the free movement of the corresponding fluid to contact with all parts of the adjacent side of the said common wall and the greater part of the water space located above the level of the highest part of the steam space and a steam pipe leading from the generator directly to the steam space of the radiator which is most remote from the generator and thence successively to the steam space of each of the remaining radiators toward the generator.

6. A radiator comprising, in combination, a plurality of upright water columns arranged side by side, nipples connecting adjacent columns at top and bottom, a vertically extended steam chamber of less height than the height of the water columns extending upwardly from the line of the bottom row of nipples to a level below the line of the top row of nipples, an upright water passage having walls which extend through the steam chamber to serve for the transmission of heat from steam contained within the chamber to water flowing through the passage, connection between the lower end of the water passage and one of the nipples of the bottom row and connection between the upper end of the water passage and one of the nipples of the top row.

7 A radiator comprising, in combination, a plurality of upright water columns of like length arranged side by side, a shorter column located between the upper parts of two of the first named columns, nipples connecting all of the columns at the top, nipples connecting the longer columns at the bottom, a heater having upright independent steam andwater chambers with a common wall located between the bottom row of nipples and the lower end of the short Water column, connection between the upper end of the water chamber of the heater and the lower end of the short Water column, and connection between the lower end of the water chamber of the heater and the adjacent nipple of the bottom row.

8. In ajheating system, in combination, av radiator having a relatively large water space and small independent steam space with the greater part of thewater space located above the level of the highest part of the steam space, said two spaces being constructed to form a multiple set of relatively short passages for the transmission of one of the contained fluids through the other when subdivided into a plurality of separate streams and to permit the flow of the contained water by the said steam space in a direct line with its travel in adjacent parts of the said water space, thereby providing a common wall between the two spaces which is large in proportion to the size of the steam space and permitting the free movement of each fluid to contact with all parts of the adjacent side of said common wall, and a steam supply pipe serving the said steam space.

9. In a heating system, in combination, a plurality of radiators each having a relatively large water space and small independent steam space'with the greater part of the water space located above the level of the highest part of the steam space, the said two spaces of each radiator being constructed to form a multiple set of relatively short passages for the transmission of one of the contained fluids through the other when subdivided into a plurality of separate streams and to permit the flow or" the contained water by the said steam spacein a direct line with its travel in adjacent parts of the said water space, thereby providing a common wall between the two spaces which is large in proportion to the size of the steam space and permitting the free movement of each fluid to contact with all parts of the adjacent side of the said common wall, the Water spaces of the several ators.

AUGUST KEHM.

Witnesses:

W. A. MERTZ, WALLACE CRAIG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

